Levelling up past level 20

We were on our way to the Inferno Creeper. It was supposed to be within the Kingdom of Grumania so we didn't really have to travel far. Luckily it was only a one day trip if we didn't rest throughout next 24 hours.

The only annoying part was the fact that Leisha was following us. I can't exactly threaten her and I can't ask Rosaline either or else it would cause unnecessary trouble. A couple weeks back Kristine was arrested so I don't want negative attention on the summoned ones.

"Why is she following us...?" I sighed.

"She seems interested in your, Kenji." Barbara stated. Being friends for over half a month, Barbara had opened up quite a lot to me and Rosaline. Her soft voice was always nice to hear.

If we were in my previous world, then whatever Leisha was doing would count as harassment and she would've been arrested by now but this world is different. If she keeps following us, she would know that I can use magic... I want to keep that knowledge as limited as possible. As of right now, only four people knew that I was the apostle of the Gods including myself so I would prefer keeping it that way till I reach level 100 but this woman...

"Seriously! What do you want?!" We were currently in middle of a forest so apart from us, there were maybe monsters and animals. If we deal with her here, no one should know, right?

"I want to join your team!" She said and rushed up to us. "I would definitely be of good use. You always seem to disappear after school is over so this time I planned ahead and spy on you. I want to see how a person without magic defeated a holy knight. She even formed a pact so she recognized the fact that she lost fair and square."

"Listen... I was not the one who defeated her. In reality, it was this masked man who defeated her. He called himself the apostle of the Gods. But later he had to go on a journey and left her in my care since we are friends. He was one of the summoned ones so he was given a special role by the Gods, unlike us." I'm good at lying.

"A summoned one...? Was he your friend?"

"Yes. He was. He is, in fact. But he left a few weeks ago so, you can't catch up with him even if I told you where he went. Also, I don't know where he is." I shrugged.

"I see." She sulked but then she quickly took out her bow and shot at me. It flew past my face hitting something behind me. I quickly turned around to see a small boar. Her skills are... good. To react that quickly and accurately, I think she is really skilled but even then... I can't. Even if I form a pact, she can still cause chaos. Kristine genuinely thought she was helping me, hence, the pact magic did nothing.

"He-he." She gave me a smug smile.

"Fine... Just for one journey and that's it." I responded.

...

We were almost there. Kenji was leading us to the location since the guide was in his possession. Barbara and I had decided to not touch anything that belonged to him.

For now, our relationship was better than I had expected. Barbara is nice and caring while Kenji is knowledgeable and reliable. With my bravery, we form a perfect team. We have been in a few battles already and been through life and death situations too so we naturally grew closer. Back when Kristine was finally arrested, I felt like Kenji would lose himself but he did not. Kenji would often talk about how he always noticed Kristine back in their own world and how he wanted their relationship to last.

He was not all words either. He believed in Kristine until the very end too. Even when evidence was stacked up against her, he believed in possibility of a curse. He truly did care about this woman who threw everything away. But going through all of that, one thing became clear: Kenji was trustworthy. If I were to marry a man, he seems too good. But I think that's just on paper. He is too good to be true and whenever something is too good to be true, it is most likely not true.

He keeps pretending that he is doing good or that he has moved on but his hesitance to letting Leisha on our team makes it obvious that he is only pretending to be okay. His love for Kristine was shattering by her devious acts and now he has become hesitant. Even lying in order to push her away. I wonder if it's only matter of time before he pushes us away too.

It is to be expected. So, I want to give him some time to recover and move on. I noticed Barbara staring at Kenji so I decided to tease her a bit.

"In love?"

"H-Huh?!" She got flustered and covered her face. "He is a summoned one. I can only admire him from a distance. I love him but not in romantic way. Kenji saved me from that Matthew, so, I have deep respect for him. Not only that but he also gave me this relic that has 5/5 rarity. Now he is helping us cross level 20. I see him as a leader and a teacher. Are you interested in marrying him? I'm not."

I was caught off-guard with that question. She is so pure... And here I thought she was yet another maiden in love. Maybe I'm the only one. Considering the opinion she has of him, her falling for Kenji seems totally out of question.

Well asking him anything might be insanely tone-deaf too but I do plan on doing it in maybe a few months.

This woman is still following us. I have to hide the fact that Kenji is the apostle. He lied about it so maybe he really wants to protect himself.

We had been walking for quite a few hours and suddenly number of enemies with fire element increased. Fire slimes, fire vines and whatnot. I took the front to make sure Kenji wouldn't have to use his attacks. Because I have fire magic and these monsters were of fire elements too, my magic was useless so I had to stick to only physical attacks but thankfully, Leisha used her burning reaction to defeat the monsters. We quickly rushed inside the cave where Inferno Creeper resided.

"We have to get the crystals." Kenji checked his book and pointed to a few crystals but we couldn't find enough. We had to venture deeper into the cave.

We had to perform a special ritual which required 5 crystals each. We saw a massive tree with flames surrounding it and many vines coming out of its body. This was Inferno creeper but it hadn't noticed us yet since we were still extremely far away. It shined bright red and yellow. It scared us to core by being in presence of such a high level monster.

Just then, I slipped off from the height and fell a couple feet down into the ring. This is bad. The inferno creeper noticed me and quickly started attacking me with its vines. I tried dodging them and it was not easy but doable.

"Barbara! Shoot the red glowing crystal!" Kenji ordered and Barbara used her ice magic to shoot it. After a few hits, the crystal broke and the body became lifeless. I charged at it with all my might. Thankfully, I was able to do damage to the monster but it's health was barely going down.

Just then, Leisha started shooting arrows at the inferno creeper too to cause a burning reaction with my fire magic.

...

I checked the stats of the inferno creeper and we had barely chipped away 10% of it's health after god knows how many attacks.

It then stood up again and started flailing around as embers rose from its body. We had to jump into the ring too but we had to do our best or else, Rosaline would definitely die.

I grabbed Leisha's bow and changed it to Polaris, the bow I had unlocked a couple weeks ago.

"Use this." I said before charging up a water lotus. This would help nature magic to stick around for longer and also cause steam reaction with Rosaline's fire magic.

At first, Leisha was confused but then her attention was again drawn by the Inferno Creeper who smashed a vine straight onto Barbara. I quickly jumped in a shielded her from the attack. It broke instantly but my offering blade allowed me to put up yet another shield instantly.

"Are you okay?" I asked and she nodded before casting a healing magic on Rosaline who had been getting small burns from being too close to inferno creeper.

From all the reactions and attacks, we managed to bring the HP down to 50% but we had to keep attacking. Barbara was easily our saving grace.

We had finally defeated the inferno creeper after a tedious hour long battle. It was not as difficult but really time consuming. If barbara wasn't here, we would've died.

We picked up the loot from the inferno creeper and fell onto ground.

Polaris: Level: 10

Attack: 237

Passive: Increases attack by 15% per 0.5 seconds the arrow is in flight.

Awakened passive: Increases chances of landing a hit that does 250% damage by 33%.

Heavenly Almanac: Level 25

HP: 2,651

Passive: Increases healing by 1000 for 12 seconds. It can only occur once every minute.

Awakened passive: Grants the person the healing is casted upon a ring of element magic that does surrounding damage while healing the individual. Element is based on the caster's element.

Offering blade of mine and Rosaline reached level 25 too which is great!

We have to do the ritual though so we can't cross the level cap.

Next on the list is Ginni Pa. It is an ice based boss and it's cave has crystals needed for Barbara. Now the entire party is level 20 because we defeated that monster but Leisha crossed level 12.

"I need answers because it seems like you lied." She said and rightfully so. I'm not an asshole who can 'so what?' so, I have to answer honestly.

I told Leisha everything that had transpired and she was understanding of my circumstances.

"Well since she now knows, it's only fair to get her to join the team." Barbara suggested. At first I was suspicious but she still helped and also knows of my secret so I can't let her get away.

We formed a pact where I changed a certain rule and the pact would now kill the individuals who intentionally tell others that I'm the apostle. The intentional part is important because sometimes people can eavesdrop.

Now we had our final team, me, Rosaline, Barbara and Leisha.

Three of us at level 20 and our weapons at level 25 and Leisha at level 12 and her weapon at level 10.

She would gain levels quickly so I'm not so worried but one thing I am worried about is being seen as a womanizer or play boy. My classmates would eat me alive...